* Posts by Gordon 8

67 publicly visible posts • joined 26 Aug 2009

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Douglas Adams was right: Telephone sanitizers are terrible human beings

Gordon 8

Strange wiring plan…

I have to admit I should have checked…

During COVID the company I used to work for decided to open a new facility in Clark the Philippines.

I was supporting the setup from Singapore, but could not travel.

One of my staff realised that the 48 port switch had cables in blocks of 12 in two rows of 6. The patch panel had cables in blocks of 8…..

So he decided to number the cables in the first block in the patch panel 1-6 then skip the next two with 7-12 in the next block …. The left over ports ‘spares’ got numbered after the blocks of six were finished….

I know I told him to number from 1 to 300 and something…. I just expected some logic, but this was not what I expected..

His explanation was he wanted to keep the cable numbers the same as the port numbers on the switch….

Sorry J.B. If you read this, but it was a classic…

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to save data from a computer that should have died aeons ago

Gordon 8
Coffee/keyboard

Re: Hybrid children watch the sea

The first 'networked' computers I ever came across were some 480Z machines at School. Ford, Trillian

The tape only 380Z was called Arthur

One of the BBC Micros was Agrajag, and possibly Zaphod

Then came a new machine, I don't remember what it was other than it was from Research Machines and called 'Deep Thought'

No Apple Computers so no Douglas ;-)

Just what we all needed, lactose-free 'beer' from northern hipsters – it's the Vegan Sorbet Sour

Gordon 8
Pint

Waste of a bullet

No don't shoot them.... Send them to Leeds to drink Pink 'Beer'.

I have a Chocolate beer in the Fridge (A gift from a friend) I just can't face the utter disappointment that I know it will be.

I never realised that value of the Education I got from joining RADSOC @ Birmingham University. The pub crawls were an education (and almost got in the way of my Education...). Thanks guys.

Storied veteran Spitfire slapped with chrome paint job takes off on round-the-world jaunt

Gordon 8
IT Angle

Lucky....

I wondered what the Silver Spitfre thing was all about when I walked past an IWC shop recently. Shame it's not coming to Singapore.

I've been lucky enough to fly in the backseat of an IXT (rebuilt from single seater) from Headcorn over the Battle of Britain Memorial. What a day, What a Legend!

10 PRINT "ZX81 at 37" 20 GOTO 10

Gordon 8
Pint

Memories

I had a new ROM ZX80, and then a ZX81.....

It was passed on to someone else when I got a Commodore 64....

However at a Radio Rally in the early 90's I saw one with an original RAM pack for 5 Pounds

I Still have it and last time I checked it works. I even brought it 8,000 miles to Singapore.

I don't have a TV that works with it any more.... My Flashy Samsung thing does not seem to work with it.

Beer for Sir Clive...

Mine's the coat with the pocket large enough for a Zx81....

What did we say about Tesla's self-driving tech? SpaceX Roadster skips Mars, steers to asteroids

Gordon 8
Pint

Re: It was never going anywhere NEAR Mars

Cool map, Never realized there were word shaped planets out there

Have a Beer

Lenovo spits out retro ThinkPads for iconic laptop's 25th birthday

Gordon 8
Coffee/keyboard

Leaving Thinkpad after 20 years

I got my first Thinkpad in March 1997, (and apart from a 12 month stint on a Dell when Corp IT demanded it) I have had one after another (X30, X31, X60, X61 X201, X220, T420p T440p(using it now)) but I've finally had enough.

The hardware has been magnificent over the years. Hardware manuals on line and driver support great. It's Lenovo here in Singapore that have forced me to take a look at other brands.

It used to be I could take a machine to the service center (and have a good coffee) and they would sort it while I waited.Now you have to jump through so many hoops for support it's a waste of time. Also the recent changes of docking connector every couple of generations It's time to change..

I'll be sad to see the TP go, but Lenovo does not seem to care about customers any more.

Here's how the missile-free Royal Navy can sink enemy ships after 2018

Gordon 8

Maybe El Reg has something in storage?

Somewhere there is LOHAN lurking (I do hope it flies one day)

The Shed Engineers who designed LOHAN could probably come up with a workable low cost aeroplane for the RN. (I know Lester is gone, but there must be someone else with a shed out there)

Plans for a Stingbag are available on the internet, a 3D printer and some Duct tape and we might have a winner (and a lot of fun with the acronyms as well)

Gordon 8

Re: lack of stealth ?!

The problem with the Mosquito was not lining up on the center of the desk due to a long wingspan (for a carrier aircraft), putting the plane on the wrong side of the desk to deal with the torque swing on take off.

the biography of Eric 'Winkle' Brown ;Wings on my Sleeve' is well worth the read. On my Kindle at the moment ;-)

First man to land a Jet on a carrier, first tricycle aircraft on a carrier, first helicopter pickup from Submarine.......

Also landed a Vampire on a Flexible Deck on HMS Warrior

Brit uni builds its own supercomputer from secondhand parts

Gordon 8

Re: I heard the tech specs & thought-

Good job you did not think of Han Solo

'I've got a bad feeling about this...."

QANTAS' air safety spiel warns not to try finding lost phones

Gordon 8

Re: Lithium

I fly model aircraft.

One piece of advice is if you have a damaged LIPO pack, put it in a bucket of salt water and leave it for a day or so.

I assume some form of chemical reaction helps stabilize the battery.

How do you recycle a Lithium battery?

BOFH: In-depth IT training needs a single-malt distillery

Gordon 8
Coat

Whisky research

A bit of 'serious' research done by some drinkers here in Singapore.

We did send it in to Lester for an April 1st posting on El Reg but it never made it.....

Cork Adhesion Observed Limit - International Libation Adjusted

or

Cork Adhesion as a Factor of Remaining Spirit Volume

or

Why you have multiple nearly-empty bottles of Scotch

http://alongfellowcreative.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/cork-adhesion-observed-limit.html

Enjoy

Mine is of course the one with the rare bottle of 'Scottish Water' in the pocket.

Rebels defeat the Empire (again) by giving BB-8 an API

Gordon 8

Re: An API is OK, but ...

Do not waste your money.

I got one for Christmas and after 5 mins I put it back in the box....

All it does is roll around the floor.

The rest of the family think it's cute.......

Much like the movie it's disappointing.

After Death Star II blew: Dissecting the tech of Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

Gordon 8
Coat

Re: INTRA-galactic

Outbound flight did not make it much out of Old Republic space...

Destroyed by 6 gun boats controlled by Thrawn

And Damn you George Lucas for throwing out such good stories just to let JJ Abrams ruin the franchise.

Mine's the one with the electronic version of the books in the pocket.

Let's shut down the internet: Republicans vacate their mind bowels

Gordon 8

Re: Bring on James Kipper for President of the United States

We have already had Douglas Adams insightful comment on politicians.....

Why not

Zaphod Beeblebrox for President?

I mean the broadcasts might be just as funny (scary) as the debates

LOHAN's final test flight moniker: The people must decide

Gordon 8

Finally

Well, kind of apt the final naming is happening, I just recived my Beer mug in the post today.

Even better, I got a bottle of Doombar yesterday to test it's liquid retention capacity.

If the American's are still on a go slow, what about moving the flight to Australia?

Alabama quadchopper hits THREE THOUSAND FEET next to AIRPORT

Gordon 8
Black Helicopters

From the RC side of the fence

I've been learning to fly RC planes in Asia for about 12 months.standards are variable at best some of the pilots scare me.

I was in the RAF cadets, so have basic understanding of airmanship.It has given me a respect of other flying machines.

i would have no problem having to pass a basic airmanship exam before flying. i think it should be compulsory, as should some simple transponder on all kit.

Panasonic's seven-inch Windows slab has tough exterior, confused mind

Gordon 8
Happy

Seen one

Umpire's chair at Wimbledon has a panasonic touch screen device.....

Picture special: LOHAN makes fire in the sky at 15,000m

Gordon 8

Addition for the Truss

Maybe there should be some Bacon mounted behind the motor on the Truss.

Emergency supplies for the Playmonaut in case the team take time to find the truss, & Lester's hounds can use it to help find it in heavy scrub.

LA air traffic meltdown: System simply 'RAN OUT OF MEMORY'

Gordon 8
Joke

Re: Realtime Embedditis strikes again

I'm fairly sure Windows RT is not the fix for this....

If it is then the problem is much bigger than we realized.

So, just how do you say 'the mutt's nuts' in French?

Gordon 8

In Hokien

According to my wife it would be

Lien Cheow

狗胡说八道

The english text is Phonetic

What ever it is, itsounds dodgy to me

The Vulture 2: What paintjob should we put on our soaraway spaceplane?

Gordon 8
Coat

Re: Why not

That looks like Gulf Oil colours to me.

I'll get my coat, the one with the copies of Motor Sport in the pocket

Gordon 8
Coat

Top & Bottom

Having a different scheme top and bottom is well worth it.

I fly RC planes and there are times when you can't tell which way it is.

That's why some planes have different patterns top and bottom.

I would go with Vulture 1 Colours as a base with maybe invasion stripes (black & white as on 1944 - 5 Spitfires) on the bottom of the wings to help the pilot.

Silver Nose and wings with red control surfaces and fuselage.

During initial flight testing a layer of sticky tape to protect the aircraft skin from damage on landing.

When in the air planes never have a problem. it's how they hit the ground that causes the damage ;-)

Microsoft: We're nearly OUT OF STOCK of Surface 2 and Pro 2

Gordon 8
Flame

Surface RT - I have one

Hi,

For about 300 GBP I have a Surface RT, and I like it ;-)

Yes it's handicapped compared to a full windows machine and i have problems with things like vpn support, but for what i paid, and what i need it to do it does 75% of what i want out of the box (well with Windows8.1). There are a few apps that fill many of the gaps.

The 8.1 upgrade with full outlook is worth it. That is why i made the purchase.

I was against when it did not have outlook, it was pointless I felt. Now that i have tried a surface and it does have outlook it's a decent piece of kit. MS need to get a few things sorted, and it needs better apps.

So unless you have actually tried to use one then please don't try to tell those of us who have used one that it's no good.

I would rather have a surface RT than any fruit or chocolate OS powered device.

I am expecting a stack of down votes, but I am happy with the Surface RT

LOHAN fans drawn to magnetic coupling

Gordon 8
Pint

KISS

The whole point of any addition is it has to be KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)

Lohan is resting on a metal Rod - One connection can be done via that, it just needs a LOHAN based pickup.

Only one other connection is needed. What ever it is (Magnet, foil, Spring loaded thingamejig.....) locate it away from the Rod.

Therefore if the rod is 'live' and the other wire is swinging around in free space they can't touch (unless the Truss has a really bad landing)

Don't forget the fuse in the power circuit just in case. Solder it in line with a rating of say 3A fast blow. LIPO packs can take that much short circuit with out causing major damage.

Lester - a list of current items under investigation would be nice. Then the White coat brigade of readers can start giving you reams of reading to do as to how to fix each one ;-)

Beer - SPB contributors need at least one each

GoPro accused of using DMCA to take down product review

Gordon 8
Pint

Re: This comment is protected by DCMA

Worth an upvote and a beer

The cheap 3D craft pen that scribbles over 3D printing hype

Gordon 8
Coat

Re: Printer to pen ratio?

"Somewhere in the cosmos along with all the planets inhabited by humanoids, reptiloids, fishoids, walking treeoids, and superintelligent shades of the color blue, there was also a planet entirely given over to ballpoint life forms. And it was to this planet that unattended ballpoints would make their way, slipping away quietly through wormholes in space to a world where they knew they could enjoy a uniquely ballpointoid lifestyle, responding to highly ballpoint-oriented stimuli, and generally leading the ballpoint equivalent of the good life."

-Douglas Adams

Mine's the one with a copy of Hitchhikers Radio series in the pocket

Nokia: Ship's now stable, all we need is passengers

Gordon 8
Thumb Up

Lumia Phones

I have 2 - 900 & 820

I had an N70 a few years ago, and never wanted another Nokia. Got the 900 as my HTC HD2 was dying.I have since got an 820

900 left me feeling there should be more. Not a bad phone, but could be better.....

I would say the 820 is the best phone I have used since my Nokia 6230 (which I still use when I travel).

Good build quality, enough apps to keep me happy. Great navigation app (for what I had to pay for it ;-) )

Microsoft says Google trying to undermine Windows Phone

Gordon 8
Flame

Standard practice

It would seem to be standard practice to screw with another IT company and not make life easy for them.

Same really, I have a Lumia 900 & 820.

820 much improved over the 900.

Have seen a couple of iPhone users play with it and had some good comments.

Yes, you pay your money & you take your choice. Me, I'm happy with Windows phone, but would like a better youtube app (among a few others)

Who's using 'password' as a password? TOO MANY OF YOU

Gordon 8
FAIL

Re: Double Fail

Have you ever used Volusion webstores?

They allow (some) administrator(s) to view all users passwords - yes all the customers who's details you have ....

And they don't even think it is a security problem...

Bash Street bytes: Do UK schools really need the Raspberry Pi?

Gordon 8
Megaphone

Re: Some good points, but not that many...

Many newer monitors have more than 1 input, and often HDMI. All you then have to do is switch inputs.

Yes, I know it means older monitors don't cut it, but the point of the PI is to have something that you can play with, you can take a risk with home made add ons because it is not worth several hundred pounds.....

I have purchased a case, but plan to try to modify my Lego X-Wing to take the PI. If it will not fit in that it damn well will fit in the Falcon I have or the SSD kit (that I want for Christmas)

(SSD in this case Super Star Destroyer)

It's all about fun. I have a ZX81, and recently showed it to the daughter of a friend who is interested in techie stuff. she was surprised at how unlike what she knows computers as it was. Yet she wanted to play with it and learn!

We need to get kid away from Halo & Facebook and back to learning, and the Pi is one way to do that. It's not perfect and not the only way to do the job, but if it get's some kids interested in the nuts and bolts of hardware and software then it has succeeded in my book....

Gordon 8
Coat

Pi

Hi,

I just got my PI this week after months of waiting, have tested it to make sure it's working.

What a cool piece of kit.

I've not had any time to try anything out.

Now to choose what to program in. am thinking riscos as I did my degree programming in BBC Basic. never did get to grips with C.

Mine's the one with the Pi in the Pocket (I'll bet there are a few more out there as well ;-) )

Android and Apple OS shares show mountain MS must climb

Gordon 8
Happy

Re: Got a windows phone

I have WP7.5 - Lumia 9000

have grown to like it, only disappointment at the moment

NO Angry Birds Star Wars ;-(

Syncs well, makes phone calls, maps work well.....

Mysterious galactic glow caused by Hitchhikers' Krikkit style stars

Gordon 8
Coat

Re: I could be wrong...

No need to be afraid, as you are (kind of) wrong.

The original story (Radio 4) is of the fleet of black Haggunenon battle cruisers, but that was changed for the TV series. Not sure about the LP's, and my copy of the CD's is of the fleet of black Haggunenon battle cruisers....

Mine's the one with ravenous blugblatter beast of Trall in the pocket.

Gordon 8
Coat

Bistromathics

I bet The Reg team were out checking out small Italian Bistros for Bistromathic drives over the weekend! Did they have to examine each others pieces of Chicken?

Have they managed to get the expenses claims in? Did Lester turn up?

I'll get my coat, mine's the one with the packet of potato chips in the pocket.

Register SPB hacks mull chopping off feet

Gordon 8
Megaphone

El Reg

I guess the staff @ El Reg were too busy to enforce Register Standard units.

Guess they are down at the pub drinking their 1.09 grapefruits of beer.

Register standard units or Metric please.

Apple files 'Shake to Print' iOS patent application

Gordon 8
WTF?

Printing

Does this mean we can't 'shake' our toner carts to get the last of the toner out of them?

The ground around 1 infinite loop needs to do some serious shaking to fix this....

Experts troll 'biggest security mag in the world' with DICKish submission

Gordon 8
Devil

Classic

Planetary Scale Cluster

I want one.....

Well done to those who wrote this, one of the best reads in ages.. Was the BOFH involved??? sounds like hakin9 might be one of his little money making schemes

Windows Phone 8 stands a chance as Apple, Android dither

Gordon 8
Coat

Re: Counting to 12 on 2 hands?

I can manage 15 on just 4 fingers.

Use Binary......

Reg hack uncovers perfect antidote to internet

Gordon 8
Thumb Up

Well

It's the SPB bunker entrance carefully camouflaged to look like a well.

Swedish cops contain fermented herring menace

Gordon 8
Mushroom

Re: Sounds even worse than durian fruit

You must be mad.

I live in Singapore and the smell makes me want to puke. It's foul

Microsofties to get Windows 8 Surface tabs

Gordon 8
Trollface

W8

I was at a MS Partner event last week.

One thing I did like was the Demo of desktop sync. Icons, colours, content (limited) sync between different machines. Cool... Needs a Windows Live account for home users ;-(

Also PC on a stick (part of Enterprise version) Very cool.

Regards

Gordon

Apple Lightning adaptors reveal limitations

Gordon 8
Happy

Re: Oh mamma mia, mamma mia, mamma mia, let it go

Sorry, had to get to the end....

Gordon 8
Trollface

Re: Oh mamma mia, mamma mia, mamma mia, let it go

So you think you can screw me and spit at a standard

So you think you can charge me and make me pay

Oh Apple - can't do this to me Apple

Just going to switch over - Just going to switch over to Android

Ooh yeah, ooh yeah

Money really matters

Anyone can see

Money really matters

Money really matters to Apple

Any way the wind blows...

NASA funds sexy, stealthy, sideways supersonic flying wing

Gordon 8
Boffin

Call the SPB

Looks like a job for Lester when he's done with LOHAN.

So, just what is the ultimate bacon sarnie?

Gordon 8
Megaphone

Re: Incentive...

Which Trade show, we must be told....

Gordon 8
Pint

Re: For inspiration...

Cheese Flavoured....

Get thee to a Hospital, I think you have a problem in your head.

The rest of the idea is not bad, but please we are not talking Carbonara here, keep the cheese where it belongs, away from the Bacon.

May be you need a Beer to get your thinking straight.

Gordon 8
Pint

Lucky B@#$%&^s

If you want the pits try living in South East Asia, we get Religion friendly (Wait for it)

Turkey Bacon

It is truly truly gross, low fat processed nastyness. If we do get 'bacon' that is not fowl, it's water injected Danish C*$@

I am sitting here eating Roast Pork Rice (in no way religion friendly) as it's possibly as close to what i want as I'll find in this place. ( good crispy pork on rice cooked with the juices of steamed chicken (used to make Chicken rice) and a bit of ginger... Magnificent)

If i could make a good Sarnie out here it would go like this :-

Bacon:- Nice thick cut Organic Pig, If you can't decide back or streaky have both (both, double meat for me ;-) ), pan fried to crispy. If you cut off the fat you should be excommunicated.

Bread - Good solid crusty white loaf, thick cut, fried in the remaining fat from the Bacon

For me a little bit of freshly made up Colmans English mustard.

And if it's a serious occasion, a nice fried egg

Any condiment that does not originated from Great Britain has to be ignored.

If it is part of a goo UNhealthy English Breakfast, bring on the Black Pudding, decent sausages, tomatoes, Mushrooms.... all fried in Bacon fat.

If you want Scottish, add haggis

Beer for the first person to go out an eat one of those magical English Bacon Sarnies for me...

BOFH: Our Excel-lent new boss and the diagram plan

Gordon 8
Pint

Re: The worst part of reading BOFH

Sorry, to all the above, although you all have good points.

The very worst part is when you know that you could never have / use / get away with

Cattle Prod

Pinch

Van, Carpet & Quicklime

You know that you need to deal with a Luser / PHB who so needs to be introduced to 1 or more of the above.

LOHAN fizzles forlornly in REHAB

Gordon 8
Boffin

Re: All about the temperature

Hi,

The experiment was at ambient temp, no serious cooling yet, just the low pressure.

I think the addition of additional explosives / black powder .... may be hard, as Guns are harder to come by legally in Europe, and therefore the 'fuel' for them may be similarly controlled.

It may be LOHAN may have to have REHAB of two different types to demonstrate the location of the problem (s).

1 - low temp - Try to start a rocket when cooled

2 - low Pressure - Tried, and so far failed. LOHAN Boffins and drunks are working on some ideas for this

3 - Low Pressure & Low Temp. Combine what we have learned from 1 & 2.

I think we need to work out how to 'stuff' an improved ignitor in to the cavity and keep it there a BUTT plug (Barometric Uniform Temperature Thingy" may be required. (Slightly corney, but best I could come up with)

Regards

Gordon

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